BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Trade cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan can be maximized if the potential of both countries’ railways is used to the maximum, Head of Cross Country Agriculture Association of Islamic Republic of Iran and Member of the Joint Chamber of Commerce of Iran and Azerbaijan, Ali Rezvanizadeh told Trend.
According to Rezvanizadeh, Azerbaijani railway officials are more interested to increase transit with the use of railways between the two countries.
He added that although the cost of transit of goods by sea has increased several times in certain seasons, especially in winter, there is little interest in the transit of goods by railway. The cooperation of both sides in this direction may increase the interest in the transit of goods by railway.
“One of the biggest problems in transit is the lack of an electronic system. As an Iranian businessman, I am ready to establish a company in Azerbaijan and take steps to equip freight trains with a navigation system and transfer this navigation system to the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC. Through this system, the businessmen will get information about the locations of their products,” he said.
The member of the chamber emphasized that currently, about 2,000 tons of goods per day enter Iran in 35 wagons through the Astara railway terminal. In addition, 600-700 tons of goods are exported daily. Over the past two years, about 2 million tons of goods have been loaded and unloaded at this railway terminal.
“If the intended plans for the terminal are realized, it is possible to load and unload 5 million tons of products a year at this terminal,” Revanizadeh noted.
The head said Iran imports 2 million tons of vegetable oil a year from foreign countries. Most of it is imported via southern ports. Given that Russia is one of the main countries in the field of vegetable oil exports, Iran also imports vegetable oil from this country. Most of the vegetable oil is currently imported by sea. However, it is possible to do it by railway.
The Cross Country Agriculture Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran operates in 16 countries. The members of this association also operate in Azerbaijan.